auntjanny

Hi All: Maybe this is more for my own benefit so that I can look back in a few months and compare what I was thinking now to what I will be thinking then. So let me begin a random missive of my thoughts, in no particular order. So much has been running through my mind this last month and I need to get it down on paper so to speak Again, no particular order......
1) Concerned that my son (22) is not completely on board with this decision. You know how idealistic a 22 year old can be, especially one who is super fit, exercise ever day, eats organic, etc. I'm worried that if I have any complications at all, even small ones, that he send silent messages (or verbal) that infer disapproval in some sense. I know he's worried for me, and he has wanted me to lose weight for a long while, so hopefully his fears will subside when he see's my progress.
2) Worried about hair loss - I have very thin hair already. Taking 10,000 mcg Biotin and using Nioxin.
3) Have had great success so far since October, just eating low carb. Makes me wonder if I should have the surgery sometimes....sigh. I'm pretty committed at this point, just that nagging feeling that perhaps I could do this on my own....
4) Have only told immediate family, nobody at work. Which is the way I want it for now.
5) It's just me and my son at home. Concerned about putting my son in a position of having to care for me the first few days. I don't think that's fair to him, although I know he would. No other family close by, so will try to convince my sister to stay with me for a few days, but not likely. May have to go to her place........still thinking.
6) Like my surgeon and the clinic staff very much. It's a little chaotic there as they are down one surgeon and a few staff but they are handling it well and I feel well cared for.
7) Haven't done any support groups - like socializing, but don't like taking the time to get there and back. Poor me..lol.
8) Planning on taking two weeks off work - can extend if I need to or work from home.
9) Am I scared? Hmm, not scared of surgery, have had those. More scared that I will regret it, but I've read enough to know that passes. Still - who could do this without being anxious a bit right?
10) Have not been hungry much at all since I started a low carb diet. Has been fairly easy to stick to.
11) Worried about nausea a lot! I have a tendency towards this, but doc has prescribed Emend to take the morning of surgery to ward it off. The surgeons PA says he's a ninja at mastering nausea, so we'll see.
12) Bought a Nutri Bullet - returned it, thought it was kinda lame. Got a Ninja Kitchen System, love it.
13) Darn it anyway! I'm going to get botox or a filler on the lines between my eyebrows. Makes me look old and mad all the time I'm also going to get my teeth whitened, and maybe get a new haircut, so there!!
14) Will I get surgery for loose skin? I might, but only on my stomach. Long past caring about my boobies.
15) Exercise? Have done some, mostly hikes through the woods with my son, some rather strenuous. Love it. More regimented exercise, not so much. Noticed there was quite a few exercise routines on cable for free. Think strength training is most important. Kettle balls?
16) Have been doing a fair amount of "I won't ever be able to eat a big plate of food anymore and go back for seconds", "I won't every be able to guzzle a tall cold glass of Water again". That's grieving of a sort isn't it....
17) Generally feel certain I'm doing the right thing, but it's getting a little "real" now.....one more week.
Thanks all for reading if you made it through....again, was mostly for me.

I had surgery Sept. 10, 2014, and at my 3 month weigh in I am down 50 pounds. It was a vary welcome surprise, as I don't own a scale. I was still feeling so tired and when I spoke with my doctors about it, they suggested to have blood work done again. Found out that I was low on Iron. After adding a Iron supplement, I'm feeling better, less tired. I do feel that taking your Vitamins, B's, and other supplements is very important, you can really feel tired and sluggish if you miss one day of them.

147.5

Mich...
What I am learning from this, my second challenge, is to not give up if I don't lose weight. I was not close to my goal at the Holiday challenge and apparently not going to make this one either. For me, though, posting that number on the scale and not being overly awful to myself is what I am "gaining" from this stuff. Good luck to you. Hang in there!

I am 22 months out and I have settled into what seems to be my normal. I measure and track my food every few days just so I don't slide back into bad habits and so that I can get a general idea of what I am really eating not what I THINK I'm eating. I don't obsess about it, but I am very mindful of it.

I own a business and I work from home and I've known my trend is that when I am "slow" or not as busy, I eat more. When I am super busy and spend most of my day out of the house, I eat less. I am VERY good about making great choices when I am out of my house for two reasons. First, I am CHEAP and I refuse to spend my money on a full meal knowing I can't finish it. I get doggie bags where I can but I am more apt to stop and get a cheese stick or two at the convenience store and I carry beef Jerky and mixed nuts in my car. I love a grocery salad bar where I can get a little chicken or seafood salad or a few slices of deli meat and cheese. Even better is the hot foods bar where I can choose a few bites of Protein and sauce, usually costing pennies.
Some of my days are super busy and I can go almost all day without eating and it amazes me. I almost always drink two cups of coffee in the morning, so Breakfast is out. (Drinking anywhere near a meal makes me vomit every single time.) lunch time is my busiest time some days and I might have a bite or two of nuts or Jerky, but I am easily distracted (I have severe ADD) so when I get distracted by squirrels, sparkly objects and stoopid people, I forget about my mini meal all together. dinner is a must as it is time for my family. A few bites of Protein is enough most days (unless I am on my period and then I'm starving) and I'm done.

I know the above isn't good and it isn't healthy. I strive to be more balanced and I am not trying to use that as an example of healthy living. I am simply AMAZED at how little food I really need,

I am still not convinced I had a food addiction. (Denial anyone!!?!?!) When I was on phentermine, I had little need or desire for food. When I started WWs or South Beach of Atkins, I had little desire or need for food. I quit smoking (college bad habit) cold turkey, I quit drinking cold turkey and had no cravings with each child, for two years around my brain tumor, cold turkey for three months preop and 3 months post, again, no cravings. I truly think food cravings for many obese people is over production of grehlin, hormonal, chemical imbalance, etc, but I am sure some food addiction played a part, too.
Anywho. TL:DR. I love not being controlled by food. I can eat 100-300 calories some days (yes, I know it's not healthy) and it's not even a blip on my radar. It's never intentional and it amazed me every time it happens.

Mich...
What I am learning from this, my second challenge, is to not give up if I don't lose weight. I was not close to my goal at the Holiday challenge and apparently not going to make this one either. For me, though, posting that number on the scale and not being overly awful to myself is what I am "gaining" from this stuff. Good luck to you. Hang in there!

Mich...
What I am learning from this, my second challenge, is to not give up if I don't lose weight. I was not close to my goal at the Holiday challenge and apparently not going to make this one either. For me, though, posting that number on the scale and not being overly awful to myself is what I am "gaining" from this stuff. Good luck to you. Hang in there!

I think I need to drop out of this challenge. I have always known I don't do well with weigh-ins, but thought I would try this challenge. And even this friendly supportive thread is triggering me.
Thanks Susan. I'm out.
Maybe it's time to look into therapy....
Good luck to all!

Thanks so much! Yes, my kids remembered to wish me happy b-day. They made me cards too. Thanks for the good laugh and making smile!

My husband forgot that today was my birthday; ( 36woot! I think this year I'm going to trade him in for a new one, or accidentally forget his birthday(#sorrynotsorry).Lol. I'll be ok, after all its not the first special day that he's forgotten, and it probably wont be his last. It's actually kinda a good thing he forgot it, or I'd be stuffing my face with cake right now. Sometimes I wish he was more supportive. I often find myself questioning our marriage. I used to think that the reason he doesn't take me out or spend time with me was because I'm fat. Now i just think its because he has to much on his mind and that he's just a jerk! I hate feeling like I'm disposable. Well enough about that. I'm still waiting to find out if my surgery has been approved. My doctor said it shouldn't take much longer. In the meantime he started me on a 6 week preop diet. I started yesterday. So far so good. I finally got all my testing and nutrition classes done. This year I want to focus all my attention on my kids and myself. I only want to be around people who care for me and protect me. Hopefully by next year my husband will be sold and that I will have a better birthday story to tell Sorry for rambling and all the auto corrects(typing on phone).

I'm shocked every time that I can now park in the lot outside the main floor of the mall--where the regular sizes are--instead of parking on the upper level--where the Shop for Women is located. I don't have to go to that department anymore. I'm still surprised that I am no longer a 22, 20, 18, 16 [even 14, for some items].
But if I don't get my butt in gear (and avoid those dang potato chips), ... I've been stuck at 185-190 for 4 months now. Pray for me!!

just started running. I am actually liking it and am singing up for a few races. I see a marathon in my future. cardio is king. do it! when was your surgery? with wls you will have muscle loss. lifting helps reduce that... keep up the great work. if your knees hurt, do elliptical machine first. I had to drop 80 pounds before I felt comfortable running.

My stricture "showed" up the first day I tried to swallow a pill. That pill was stuck for three days before it finally dissolved enough to go down.

I was on pureed/soft for almost 6 months before I could move on to solids. To this day, a bite too big of chicken, the white of a hard boiled egg, hamburger too well done and blurp.... It sticks and comes back out.

Sometimes it's good to remind myself that even if I'm not exactly where I want to be, I will never go back.
I thought that reminder might be helped by trying on the 1 pair of pants I kept....a size 20, down to a 4.
So here's a visual of what it looks like to be literally less than half of yourself, given that I've lost more weight than I actually weigh now.
I have to say I quite enjoyed the reminder :-)  

Stricture here. I opted to keep it. Keeps me from eating too fast or to much. I love mine.

I had a long long stall. Holidays were a reality check. Stall is over and just going to look at my post op life as living stall to stall and focusing on the long term goal!!

I would run, not walk, to look seriously into this surgery. I think it is a wonderful TOOL. I am still and wil always struggle with emotional eating but this process has given me hope and success. I had a BMI around 37. I think it is now 29.8. I am 5 feet tall, older, and a slow loser. I have no regrets.
You can reclaim your life and look forward to amazing years with future children.
I would suggest doing your research and medical appointments without involving your mom or anyone who may not get it. It is often a long enough process that you as the patient get the chance to decide if this way of life is for you.
I wish you great success and enjoyment of the whole process!

I had a total hysterectomy 4 years prior to sleeve. I was 49. Did not go on hormones. No issues except I did gain weight. Hence the WLS. I had sharp pains during post op which may have been adhesions from hysterectomy and c sections. But not a big deal.

I am seeing Dr next week to see if it is a stricture. I am hoping it resolves itself. Honestly, it is helping me with weight loss but I know whatever is happening ain't supposed to, so Dr. visit is warranted.

Sorry, I am really bad about not proof reading my voice text. And I don't have a clue how to edit. Hope you can make sense of the gibberish.

This happens to me if I eat too fast or drink too fast, or if I take more than Suzy Sleeve can handle. Have you added any new foods recently? I have learned just to slow down. (It is still hard to eat slowly, and to know when I have had enough.) Hope this helps.

I hope everyone is doing well!
Sorry I have been a bit slack
I have lost 18 kgs and I am at my 12 week mark so I am doing ok.
I am half way there nearly!
Feeling good, should be eating a lot more but just can't stomach more than 3 mouthfuls.
So I am hoping that improves..
Hope everyone is well

How's everyone going???
I have been on a stall for 5 weeks!! So over it

Well after nearly 6 weeks of stalling I can proudly say I have lost 500grams..
It was really starting to get me down, fingers crossed it keeps moving!!
I hope you are all going well!

Yes it will. The only safe sex post sleeve is in the ear. But that's only until you're completely healed up, start experiencing less restriction, and can tolerate all normal foods.